Contest Opens to Develop a Mobile App to Promote PA Trails

Contest Opens to Develop a Mobile App to Promote PA Trails A contest to develop a mobile application to promote the use of Pennsylvania trails and enhance the fun that trail users can have while out and about is being held this spring by a consortium of trail, conservation, tourism and technology partners.

Harrisburg, PA, January 21, 2011 -- A contest to develop a mobile application to promote the use of Pennsylvania trails and enhance the fun that trail users can have while out and about is being held this spring by a consortium of trail, conservation, tourism and technology partners.

The contest is being sponsored by Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation of Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Tourism Office.

Developers everywhere and students at Pennsylvania universities are invited to submit entries by April 15. In addition to recognition, the winner will receive an Apple iPad. "Pennsylvania has thousands of miles of trails for its citizens and visitors to enjoy," said Brenda Barrett, Director of the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation PA DCNR. "While there is great information and maps of the trails available on the Internet at ExplorePAtrails.com, this contest will help us take the next step to make trails information available to mobile users."

The contest sponsors are hoping to see creative and innovative entries that combine existing trails data with other datasets and user driven content. Developers who build contest entries can take advantage of ExplorePAtrails.com recently compiled on ExplorePAtrails.com.

Interested parties can find more information about the contest at http://www.iexplorePAtrails.com. Questions can be directed to Charles Palmer, Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Entertainment and Learning Technologies at Harrisburg University at cpalmer@HarrisburgU.edu or Tom Ford at DCNR at thoford@state.pa.us.

Founded in 2001 to address Central Pennsylvania’s need for increased opportunities for study leading to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, Harrisburg University is an innovative and ambitious private institution that produces graduates who provide increased competence and capacity in science and technology disciplines to Pennsylvania and the nation. Harrisburg University ensures institutional access for underrepresented students and links learning and research to practical outcomes. As a private University serving the public good, Harrisburg University remains the only STEM-focused comprehensive university located between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

For more information on the University's demand-driven undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs in applied science and technology fields, call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu.

Contact: Steven Infanti Harrisburg University Communications 326 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 717.901.5146 Sinfanti@HarrisburgU.edu http://www.harrisburgu.edu/ Contest, Mobile App, Promote PA Trails, consortium, PA DCNR 11-01-22-PRDF70-0083 software, Applications Links: